Part 3 

After showering, Seowoo sat on his living room sofa lost in thought.

The memories of their twenties flashed before her eyes like a panorama. Round and round, back to square one.

Where did it all go wrong?

She was naive enough to confess her feelings to him back then.

Somewhere along the way, she closed her heart only for him.

“Ha…….”

Seowoo sighed, pulling her legs up and hugging her knees. Leaning her head back, she stared blankly out the window.

Just then, she heard familiar footsteps in the distance.

It seems like his work ended earlier than expected, coming around 5 o’clock. Seowoo remained seated without a movement.

“Get up.”

Even with his words, Seowoo didn’t respond. Jiwook’s brow furrowed as he silently looked down at her.

“Yoon Seowoo.”

“If you have something to say, go ahead. I’ll listen.”

He told her to wait because he had something to say.

He sighed deeply at her stiff demeanor.

“If you’re not going to cooperate, then stop all these.”

Finally, Seowoo turned his head towards him. When she raised her gaze to meet him, Jiwook’s face came into view.

“After all, you only wanted my body, didn’t you?”

“Do whatever you want, make your own judgments and conclusions. Do you even intend to listen to what I say?”

“No. I don’t. I’m not curious.”

Seowoo firmly stated,

I don’t want to hear any of it.

She was afraid that even a single word might shake her heart again. Just looking at him made her chest ache.

“You don’t seem to have anything to say, so I’ll go.”

Ha—

Jiwook grabbed her wrist as she turned away, and pulled her toward him. The air around him was filled with a refreshing citrus scent.

Seowoo furrowed her brow and lifted her gaze.

“Who are you to be angry with?”

His icy gaze sliced through the air. She stared at him intently and spoke.

“I still find it difficult to look at you.”

His face overlapped with Byul’s face.

They say the first daughter looks like her father.

Byul’s face, as seen in the 3D ultrasound, was indeed very similar to Jiwook’s.

“I thought I was starting to feel a little better now…”

Seowoo’s voice trailed off, heavy with emotion. Jiwook’s lips twisted coldly as he looked at her.

“Endure it.”

“…”

“This is your punishment for abandoning me, filing for a divorce without consulting me.”

His voice was filled with anger.

“So.”

“…”

“Endure it. I’m not letting you go. It would be better for you to change your mind.”

***

“Seowoo, it’s Seung-min’s birthday this week, are you available by any chance? There’s no schedule.”

“…”

“I’m thinking of having dinner together as three. What should we buy as a gift?”

Seowoo sat in a daze even as Jung-ah muttered next to her.

She needed to start something quickly to stop herself from overthinking. 

Luckily, she had her first script reading scheduled for tomorrow. It was indeed a long-awaited schedule.

Excitement and worry mingled within her.

It’s been a long time, but the attention she’s gotten since her divorce felt somewhat excessive, almost burdensome.

“Seowoo.”

“…Huh? Oh, yeah.”

“What’s been up with you lately? Something bothering you?”

“No, nothing like that.”

Seowoo offered a faint smile and nodded. Jung-ah looked at her with a worried expression.

“Are you free this Saturday?”

“You and Seung-min oppa can eat alone, and I’ll just give a gift.”

“Why? Let’s eat together.”

“You like Seung-min, don’t you?”

Jung-ah paused at Seowoo’s words. After hesitating, she forced a smile, pulling up the corners of her mouth.

“W-what?”

“Does he know?”

A shadow crossed Jung-ah’s face. Lowering her gaze, she thought for a moment before forcing a strained smile.

“I think he knows…… But since he hasn’t said anything, he probably doesn’t like it when boundaries are crossed, right?”

“…….”

“That’s why I’m just going to stay like this. I don’t want to make things awkward by confessing.”

Recently, as someone who had come to know Seung-min’s feelings, Seowoo couldn’t offer any comfort.

I wonder if Jung-ah knows too.

Being caught between two people who were as precious as a family was truly awkward.

“Say the three of us eat together. And I’ll excuse myself.”

“Seowoo.”

“Even if you can’t confess, at least spend some quiet time together. Okay?”

Though Jung-ah didn’t answer, she was grateful inwardly. Seowoo smiled faintly and picked up the script in front of her.

“Did you say the reading is tomorrow?”

“Yeah. 1 p.m. I’m a little nervous.”

“It’s natural to feel nervous. But you’ll do great. You’re very confident, Yoon Seowoo.”

“Right? I’m very brave.”

Reciting it almost like a mantra, Seowoo mulled over the words and tried to calm herself.

But her mind was all about Kwon Jiwook.

Before marriage, during marriage, and even now after divorce. He was an expert at making people feel uncomfortable.

Just then, her cell phone vibrated on the table.

A puzzled expression flickered in her eyes as she picked up her phone.

[Sunbae-nim! I’m passing by your place right now, could I stop by for a moment?]

It was Sung-hyun.

When they had dinner together with Writer Cho before, she heard that his house was also in Dogok-dong.

Sung-hyun lived in a villa located about a 10-minute walk from Seowoo’s house. Since there was no reason to refuse, Seowoo gave a reply and left with Jung-ah.

After bidding farewell to Jung-ah, she arrived at the meeting place she had arranged with Sung-hyun.

“It’s spring.”

Spring had arrived unnoticed.

After the anniversary of Byul’s passing and a period of mourning, it was always spring. 

It’s been five years already. Enduring each day was difficult enough, but somehow, five years had passed. Seowoo gazed at the lush trees, lost in thought for a moment.

“Sunbae-nim!”

At that moment, Sung-hyun quickly ran up to her. His face lit up with a smile upon seeing Seowoo.

“Ha, ha. Have you been waiting for a long time?”

“No. I just came out too. Take it easy. Why did you run?”

“Waiting for you, ha, look.”

He seemed to have run for some urgent reason. He’s out of breath, but he pulls the corners of his mouth into a smile.

Sung-hyun held three shopping bags in his hand. Alternating his gaze between the bags and Seowoo, he scratched his head awkwardly, sporting a shy smile.

“I just got back yesterday from a fan meeting in Bangkok.”

“I see.”

“I bought some gifts for friends, but this one’s for you, Sunbae-nim.”

He extended the hand holding the shopping bags toward her. When Seowoo hesitated at the sudden gift, Sung-hyun added hastily.

“Don’t feel pressured, I was thinking of giving it to you tomorrow…… because it’s the script reading day. It’s not like it’s just for you, and I just happened to be passing by your house.”

Ah…

Embarrassment tangled up his words. As his hand extended awkwardly, Seowoo accepted the gift.

“Thank you. Why did you get so much…”

“Actually, I heard that you’re shy, so I wanted to get to know you a little before filming…..so I bought it on purpose. I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable.”

Sung-hyun played the role of her ex-husband in this drama.

They had passionately loved each other in their youth and broke up without realizing she was pregnant.

“I see. Thank you. It’s good to get along.”

Seowoo wasn’t originally one to be reserved. However, after marriage, her personality gradually became more introverted. Now, she was cautious around anyone she met for the first time.

“Thank you for saying that. Have you had dinner?”

“Yes. What about you, Sung-hyun-ssi?”

“You can speak comfortably to me, really. I’m only three years younger than you.”

“I’ll take it slow for now.”

Sung-hyun nodded and smiled understandingly. He was full of fresh energy.

Maybe it was his bright expression. Or his unruffled personality.

Although he had served in the military at the age of twenty, he looked stronger than most people his age.

Or maybe it was just his physique.

Sung-hyun was much taller than Seowoo too.

“Well, I’d better get going then.”

“I can’t thank you enough. You came all the way here just to give it to me.”

He had bought so much. The shopping bags in her hands now were quite hefty.

“Could I at least have a cup of tea, then?”

At that moment, Sung-hyun unexpectedly made a suggestion. Seowoo’s face stiffened slightly at the unexpected remark, but he quickly added with a smirk.

“Oh…”

“Just kidding. Don’t take it to heart! See you tomorrow!”

Sung-hyun bid her a casual farewell. Seowoo, who had been hesitating, spoke up.

“Sung-hyun-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to have a cup of tea before you go?”

“I won’t refuse that.”

Seowoo nodded with a faint smile.